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The founder of Aikido, O Sensei, was once confronted by a student. O Sensei, I dont see the relationship of the triangle, square and circle. O Sensei nodded and smiled and said, There are some secrets that must be stolen.

The founder of Aikido, O Sensei, was once confronted by a student. O Sensei, I dont see the relationship of the triangle, square and circle. O Sensei nodded and smiled and said, There are some secrets that must be stolen.

Stealing is not the normal advice of a spiritual person. O Senseis words must have seemed a great puzzle to the student. What the heck did the Great Master mean by advising him to steal?

His meaning was that to attain true learning the student must observe the art. He must observe the actions of other people and therein find the hidden meanings of the circle, the triangle, and the square. Most important, he should consider his own practice and search for the trio of geometric figures.

There are some lessons in the martial arts that can be taught. There are other lessons that must be learned. Obviously, this student had reached the stage where he had to stop looking to others and start learning on his own.

The geometrical figures are the secret of the universe. Everything in the universe may be broken down to these three symbols. From the shape of the sun to the house you live in to the molecules of an insect, these three symbols describe the architecture.

The triangle describes the structure of the body in the martial arts. A triangle can be seen in the joining of two bones. Mere standing can be described by imagining lines from the feet to the Tan Tien (a place of energy located just below the navel).

Every motion you make with hands describes the round of a circle. Kick or throw, strike or block, there is a circle, if you can open your eyes and look. Actually, to do something without making a circle is the real difficulty.

The square, of course, doesnt exist in the martial arts. The square might exist in a window, or a picture, or even a door, but the martial arts has no conceivable place where a square can be imagined. The only exception to this would be if you have reached the stage of being able to steal your martial arts.

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